| Citation | Bussing, W.A. and R.J. Lavenberg, 2003, Four new species of eastern tropical Pacific jawfishes (Opistognathus: Opistognathidae).. Rev. Biol. Trop. 51(2):529-550. |
| Ref. | 75633 Bussing, W.A. and R.J. Lavenberg, 2003 |
| Page | 546;fig.4b,9a-d;tab.1 |
| Named Used as Valid | Opistognathus punctatus |
| Comment | O. mexicanus is a junior synonym. |
| Locality | |
| Distribution | Mexico. |
| Quote | The principal diagnostic characters of O. mexicanus match the coloration and morphology of juvenile specimens of O. punctatus. The major distinctions of O. mexicanus purportedly refer to its distinctive pigmentation and short maxillary length. It is true that adults of O. punctatus have 'much smaller and more numerous spots, particularly on the head', than immature individuals. The statement by Allen and Robertson (1991) that 'large adults of O. punctatus have a very long maxilla that is nearly equal to the head length' is only correct for males; like many sexually dimorphic jawfishes, the maxillae of adult females and young are shorter than those of large males). We also find no meristic differences between O. mexicanus and O. punctatus. |